Volunteering isn’t for everyone. The following situations could affect your ability to serve internationally:

Specific Health Problems
Medical provision may be inadequate for people with conditions such as unstable asthma, heart conditions, cancer, insulin dependent diabetes, uncontrolled epilepsy, and chronic psychiatric conditions. Please raise any concerns about your health early in the application process.

Medical clearance is required for volunteers serving more than two months.

Criminal Record
Most AVS positions require a visa, which sometimes entails clearance from the police department in your country. Should you have a criminal record, it may be unlikely a visa will be issued.

Major Financial Commitments
All financial obligations must be taken care of before departure. Where a stipend/salary is paid, financial obligations will have to be declared and taken care of.

Children
Lack of appropriate housing and small (if any) stipends for living expenses nearly eliminate opportunities for families with children. Child care and educational opportunities are also limiting factors.

Short Time Period
The hard truth is that for many positions, volunteers may need up to six months to become productive. Orientation and adaptation to a new culture eat up a lot of time.